The players ought to be hardened to the mental challenges that come with their prominence.

Aberdeen had an excellent record against all the top-flight teams other than Celtic last season, but the squad should be better prepared for the expectation level that comes with being the team best equipped to at least pressurise the reigning champions.

Rodney Sneijder is one of Jackie McNamara's summer signings at Dundee United

Jackie McNamara has to marshal diminishing funds and the brittle promise of youth.

Flaws need to be managed, too, since Rodney Sneijder joins the club from a period of effective exile in the Dutch second tier after initially breaking through at Ajax, and at 24 the midfielder needs to show he has the character and spirit to accompany decent technique and speed.

Hearts back with a bang?

The recruitment strategy has been agreed, since the new signings are all arguably better than those they have or will replace in the side, with only Gavin Reilly from Queen of the South being captured for his potential.

Battle at the bottom

More grimly, the wonder is which established sides will find themselves in a battle for survival? Finances remain tight across the division and many of the teams have had to struggle just to try to maintain their squads.

Even so, it is possible to assume improvements at most apart from Partick Thistle and Hamilton Academical.

The tendency is for teams at the top and at the bottom to be cut adrift from the rest as the season unfolds, and to that end this campaign is likely to have a familiar feel to it.